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Philippines

With 102 million inhabitants, the Philippines is one of the largest countries in the world. More than half of its people are under 24 years of age. Because of poverty many children have to work. They are extra vulnerable to (sexual) exploitation and child trafficking. We offer children a safe place, education, medical help and legal support. We help arrest and prosecute perpetrators. We take action with governments and educate communities about children's rights.

Our work in the Philippines

Working to survive

Children have to work at a young age to help their families, or they are sexually exploited and sold like stuff. Sexual exploitation is a big problem - not only related to travel and tourism, but also online. We fight against child exploitation in the Philippines.

We offer children a safe place, education, medical help and legal support. We help arrest and prosecute perpetrators. We take action with governments and educate communities about children's rights.

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Read the country profile

Child labour in the Philippines

More than 3.2 million children work in the Philippines. Barely ten percent of these children also go to school. This is a problem, since quality education and general access to it is a globally-recognized solution to poverty. 

Most of the children work in the informal sector. They are exploited as street vendors, domestic helpers or in agriculture. Children work long hours and are exposed to physical, emotional and sexual abuse. They are forced to work, for example, in dangerous mines or even under water.

We fight against child labor in the Philippines. We work together with parties that also fight against child exploitation. These are often local organizations that know the children's environment well.

We also work with companies and the local government to improve the safety and education of children who work there. We are campaigning to make the disadvantages of child labor clear, so that fewer children are exploited.

Sexual exploitation

Sexual exploitation of children is a rapidly growing problem, not only in the travel and tourism industry but also online. 

We fight against (online) sexual exploitation through various initiatives. We ensure that all children (regardless of gender, class, religion, ethnicity, and abilities) are protected from Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE) in a safe family and community environment through proactive and collaborative engagement of policy makers, child protection systems judiciary, private sectors, and children themselves.

Child trafficking and unsafe migration

Children from poor families are most likely to be exploited. They run a great risk of being traded. The estimated number of trafficked children ranges from 20,000 to 100,000.

Traders worldwide are gaining the trust of children and families with beautiful talk. They promise to offer a better life elsewhere. In the meantime they are being exploited.

Many of these children come from poor areas such as Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and the slums of large cities. They are forced to work. In the household, brothels, bars, factories, or on plantations. These children are also extremely vulnerable to sexual exploitation.

Our programmes

Ongoing

Strengthening the Community-based Protection Systems to Eliminate Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL) in Visayas Region

Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL) is a serious and prevailing issue in the Philippines that is caused by a ra…

Ongoing

SCROL: Safety for Children and their Rights OnLine

Online child sexual exploitation has seen a significant rise over the last number of years. Our new SCROL (Saf…

Ongoing

Creating a safer Online Environment for Every Child (CONEC) (Philippines)

The internet opens many doors for children. They do their homework, play games and chat with their friends. Ch…

Completed

Child Protection Support to Children and Families Affected by Super Typhoon Rai

To support children and their families who were affected by the Super Typhoon Rai, Terre des Hommes Netherland…

Learn about our programmes

Our partners in the Philippines

Together with experienced partners we are working towards a world without child exploitation, where young people can feel safe today and better about tomorrow. Join our fight.

Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc.
Visit the website of Bidlisiw Foundation, Inc.

Contact us

Terre des Hommes Netherlands Philippines Country Office
PSS Center, Commonwealth Ave, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101 Metro Manila, Philippines
directions
+63-2-8926-6847

Business hours

Monday to Friday
09:00 - 17:00

Latest news

April 3rd, 2023

Mainstreaming Child Protection in Emergencies at the Community Level

The onslaught of Super Typhoon Rai (locally known as Super Typhoon Odette) in the Philippines in December 2021…

January 20th, 2023

"I can now protect other children from online sexual abuse"

"My name is Chester and I live in Cebu City, Philippines. I am the vice president of the High Peer Support Gro…

January 20th, 2023

All Filipino children deserve an education: Alexa's wish

Alexa (21) met someone online through Facebook when she was 16. The man enticed her to meet up in person. That…

November 30th, 2022

'I went online and got in touch with people from abroad. At the time I didn't realize I had made the wrong friends.'

Poverty in the Philippines affects many families. It makes millions of children vulnerable, especially those w…

September 9th, 2022

New focus in fight against online sexual exploitation

Terre des Hommes will focus even more on preventing (online) sexual exploitation of children and offering supp…

January 6th, 2022

Help for Filipino children after Super Typhoon Rai

On December 16 last year, Super Typhoon Rai (locally known as Odette) swept across the southern Philippines, l…

June 27th, 2019

Annual report 2018

Thanks to your support, in 2018 we were able to work on tackling child labor in the mica mines in India, child…

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